Telephone system.



, PATENTED DEG1F105Q J. A.- AVE'N. TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22, 1905.

UNITED. STATES.

PA ENT OFFICE.

JOHAN ANTON AVEN, OF STOGKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO DEUTSCHETELEPHONWERKE' R. STOCK & CO. G. M. B. H., OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906.

Application filed August 22, 1905; Serial No 275.252.

' distributing system, and is materially distinguished from the usualsystems of that kind y a third board being inserted between theannunciator and the multiple connectin board. The operator at the saidthird boar .which I will designate inquiring-board, has only to answerthe calls of the subscribers and to communicate to the Operator at themultiple connecting-board the number of the calle subscriber and that ofthe trunk-line employed by the operator at the annunciatorboard, whilethe operator at the inquiringboard has not to deal with any lugconnection at all. The operators at tile inquiringboard are indicated bysuitable signals, as

. busy or free at some or all of the positions ofthe annunciator-board,whereas the operators at the connecting-board are indicated by signalsat all positions of the inquiring-board. The signal indicating that anoperator is free is preferably given by lighting a signal-lamp, and thesignal indicating {hat an operator is busy by extinguishing the l of.the subscribers lines traverse the jack-field of the connecting-boardand branch off in the latter for its different positions in a well-knownmanner to multiple jacks. Each subscribers line terminates at theannunciator-board, where it has a signal and in close proximity thereofan answering-j ack. Each position of the annunciator-board is providedwith a certain number of answerlng- 1plugs, which are connected with thelisteningeys at the in uiring-board and with jacks arrangedin mu tipleat the connecting-board. In order toconnect a subscriber after theappearance of its line-signal, merely the answeringplug is inserted atthe annunciatorboard, t e operator at this board selecting such a plug,the trunk-line of which leadsto an operator at the inquiring-board whois indicated to be free. The inquirin operator receives a si al when theplug at t e annunciator-boar is raised, which signal causes her toconnect her telephone set by means of a suitable key with theannunciator-board and to inquire of or answer the call of the callingsubscriber. appearance of the signal at her board the inqulring operatorconcerned is automatically indicated as busy at all the positions at theannunciator-board from which -she is attainable. This signal preferablyconsists in Simultaneously with the lamps extinguishing while theygenerally are 1 lighted up.

When the inquirin operator has inquired of or answered the ca 1 of thesubscriber, she releases her key, which automatically re turns into theposition of rest, and resses an order-key, whlch places her direct y inconnection with thetelephone set of one of the operators at theconnecting-board and puts herself into connection with such a connectingoperator as is indicated to. her as free at the time by the glowing ofthe lamp appertainin to said operator. Simultaneously with the pressingof the order-key a circuit for a relay controlling the signals of theconnecting operator at the inquiring-board is closed, and this relayattracts its armature and interrupts the circuit of the said signals, sothat the same indicate the connecting operator as busy. She nowcommunicates to the latter the number of the trunk-lineem loyed by theannunciator operator. as. wel as the number of the deslred subscriber.If the connecting operator has understood both,

she inserts one of her two connecting-plugs the plug at theannunciator-board brings 5 about besides the connection of the callingsubscriber with the connecting-plug pair the closure of the contact of alocal circuit in which lies a relay controlling a signal at theannunciator-board and appertaining to the plug employed there. The relayattracts its armature, interrupts the circuit of the said signal, andcloses a contact by means of which the falling back of the armature andthe redisclosure of the signal during the continuance of the connectionis avoided. The extinction of the signal indicates to the inquiringoperator that the connecting operator has taken the correct trunk-line.The connecting operator now tests in the wellknown manner-the line ofthedesired subscriber .by means of the -.tip of her second lug. If saidline is busy, she announces v this briefly to the calling subscriberandgives the clearing-out signal to the annunciator operator by-pressinga special key. .Thereupon the annunciator operator for her part breaksthe connection and the connecting op erator removes the first plug fromits jack.

If the line of the desired subscriber is free, the connecting operatorinserts the second plug into the jack in question and brings hercombined calling and listening key into the calling position, from whichit automatically returns into the through-speaking position. Inthelistening position an additional special contact is closed by thekey, which contact closes the circuit of a relay which separates in awell-known manner the order-wires of the inquiring operator from thetelephone set of the connecting operator and simultaneously opensanother contact of the signal-cit cuit of the connecting operator at theinquirin -board. I

en the subscribers conversation is finished, both the connectingoperator and also the annunciator operator automatically receive aclearing-out signal, and this signal re mains at the annunciator-board,even when the connecting operator has already put an end to theconnection by withdrawing her plugs. The clearing-out signal at theannunciator-board does not become extinguished until the answering-plugis put back into its position of rest and until the result ing openingof a plugcontact has been effected.

In the accompanying drawing the subject-matter of the present inventionis diagrammatically illustrated in one form.

' he telephone-oilice has three boards A, B, and O, the boundaries ofwhich are indicated by broken lines, A being the annunciatorboard, B theinquirin board, 0 the multiple connecting-board. file subscribers linesa a "b b and also the local wires 0 c of the cutoff relaysare connectedin multiple with the jacks at the connecting-board C and terminate atthe annunciator-board A in an answering-jack 8 and the armature of acut-ofi' relay 9. The back contacts of the relay 9 are connected withthe line-relay 10 and a battery (1. The line-relay controls the an--nunciator or line-lamp 11 in the usual way.

When a subscriber calls, the lamp 11 is lighted up 'attheannunciat'or-board A. The A operator seeing from the signals 15 16 whichB operator is free at the time, takes the answering-plug 1 of a free Boperator and inserts it in the jack 8 wherewith her duty is dischargedad interim. On raising the plug 1 from its seat the plu contact 17becomes closed. Current now ows from one pole of 'B board and there viathe armature thereby connects her telephone set 23 the battery 12via-the plug-contact 17 to the and back contact 19 of a relay 18, the sinal 20, the relay 2-1, and back to the other po eof the battery. Therelay 21 attracts its armature and by 0 ening the contact 22 interruptsthe circuit 0 the lamps 15 16, which are now extinguished, and thusindicate at the Aboard that the B operator is busy. On the B operatornoticing the signal she presses t 1e listening-key 13 indicated by saidsignal, an?1 wit the wires 6 and 7 of the plug 1 or with the callingsubscriber. When the subscriber has communicated the desired number tothe B operator, the latter releases the listening-key 13, whichautomatically returns into its position of rest and presses theorder-key 14, by means of which she connects her set 23 with thetelephone set of a C operator at the conmeeting-board who is free at thetime. This C operator is recognizable by the B operators by means of thesignals 26. The latter are lighted up when the corresponding C operatoris free, and are extinguished, as I will later explain, when thecorresponding C operator is busy. The B operator now informs the Coperator of the number of the trunkline 6. 7 employed and of the numberof the subscriberto be called. By pressing on the order-key 14 a contact24 is closed, the closure of which results in the working of a relay 27.This relay opens its back contact 28, and consequently the circuit ofthe signals 25 and 26, by means of which the C operator in uestion isimmediately indicated asbusy at a 1 positions on the B board. If the Coperavtor has understood the numbers communicated to her, she insertsthe connecting-plug 3 in the nearest jack 4 of the trunk-lines 6 7 ofthe answering-plug 1, which lines are connected in multiple to the jacks4 5, and tests with the tip of the second connecting-plu 2 the jack ofthe desired subscribers l1neor example, 29-in the well-known manner, soas to ascertain whether he is busy or not. By the insertion of the plug3 in the jack 4 the contact 52 in the jack 4 is closed.' Now the'relay'18 attracts its armature and extinguishes the lamp 20 by openingthe contact 19. The extinction of the lamp 20 indicates to the Boperator that theC operator has employed the correct trunk-line. Thearmature of the relay 21 returns against its back contact 22, andconsequently the circuit of the lamps 15 16 is again closed, whereby theB operator is again indicated as free at the annunciator-board A.

During the test of the jack 29 the combined calling and listenin key isturned to the right, whereby the g operators set 42 is connected by wayof the contacts 53 54 with the tip and sleeve strands of the cordconnecting the plugs 2 3. If already a plug l or 2 is inserted in one ofthe jacks 8 or 29 of the line a bc', the wire c is sleeve of the pole ofthe battery 12;

if none of the connected tiirough the question with the free but, on theother hand jacks of a line is busy their testplug in rings are onlyconnected over the line-relay as, for instance, 9-with the earthi. 6.,with the grounded pole of the battery 12. latter case no current flowsthe wire to the tip of the plug 2, while the called subscribers line isbusy a circuit In the during the test elf.

is closed from the free pole of the battery 12 over the sleeve of aplug, (inserte'l at an other position,) the test-ring ofjack 29, tip ofplug 2, contact 53 ofthe key 35', one coil of the receiver-42 toground,whereby the wellknown click occurs in the receiver.

If the line appears to be busy,

the C operator informs of it the calling subscriber, the

receiver 42 being connected with the plug 1 by the contacts53 54 of thekey 35, the plug 3, and the presses the key trunklines 6 7. She" further30, whereby therelay 31 is 'excited and remains so even after the keyhas been released, a current passing fromone pole of the battery 12 tothe closed plug-seat contact 17, the right-hand armature of relay 31,its front contact the otherpole of the battery same time a left-handarmature of 32, the relay 31, and to circuit is closed containing therelay 31, its front contact 33, and the signal 34. When the latterappears, the

A operator withdraws her plug 1 from the jack 8.

If the line appears to be free, the O operator inserts the plug 2 in thejack 29, and thereby connects the trunk-lines 6 7 with the line all bl,scribers may key 35 so that the conversation of the two subtake place.Now she turns the to the left and connects the lines a I) over thecontacts 55 56 for a certain time with a source of alternating current57,

whereby the desired subscriber is called. During the conversation thekey 35 remains in the position shown.

When for turned to the right, a relay 37 is the contact 36 and from theback contacts 39 40 41. first the receiver 42 is 44 and other wires 5960, which may wires 43 testing purposes the key 35 is excited overattracts its armature 38 Hereby disconnected from the be connected toother keys 14, so that the C operator cannot be disturbed during hiswork by a false call of one of the B operators; second, the armature 380 before the key 14 is thus the signals 25 ing the test and called iscalled.

ens the contact 39 re eased and prevents 26 from being excited durbeforethe subscriber to be Therefore the signals 25 26 remain unexcited andindicate at the positions of the B board the C operator as busy as longas she has to. 7

When the conversation is finished, the subscrib ers hang the circuit wIts armature up their receivers and interrupt hereby the relay 46 is cutout. falls back and makes the super- 12. -At the" visory' lamp 45 glow.A circuit is further closed from the free pole of battery 12, wire 62,contact. 47, armature of relay 46, plug 3, test-ring of jack 4, wire 58,and relay 31 to the other pole of battery 12, so that the lamp 34 islighted up, as already described. Now both the Aand Coperators pull theplugs 1 2; 3 out of the jacks 8 4 29. The plugs 50 5 position-jacks aslong as the corres onding B or G operator is at her place. f. the saidoperators leave their places, they pull the plugs out, so that the lamps15 16 or 25 26, respectively, extinguish, whereby the position inquestion is indicated as busy.

- It is to be understood that instead of providing thetrunk-line 6 7 atthe connecting- 1 are inserted in so-called board with multiple jacksthey also may terminate in multiple plugs. In this case the C operatorwouldjhave to handle only one plug 2 in making a connection. a

Having now described my invention and in what'mannerlthesame is to beperformed, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 'is' 1.In a call-distributing system comprising telephone-lines, each having aterminal jack and a signaling instrument in an annunciator-board, and aterminal socket in each of several sections in a multiple connecting-board, a trunk-line extending from the annunciator-board to onesection of an inuiring-board and to a plurality of sections of themultiple connecting-board, signalingcircuits extending between all theboards and an order-circuit extending between the inquiring-board andthe multiple connectingboard; whereby several connecting operators haveaccess to the same trunklines to equitably distribute the inquiries tothe inquiring operators and from the latter the connections to be madeto the connecting operators, substantially as described.

2. In a call-distributing system comprising telephone-lines, each havinga terminal jack and a signaling instrument in an annunciatorboard, and aterminal socket in each of several sections in a multipleconnecting-board, a trunk-line extending from the annunciatorboard toone section of an inquiring-board and to a plurality of sections of themultiple connecting-board, a plug-seat contact at the annunciator-boardand a signal associated therewith at the in uiring-board, a relay at thelatter and contro ling a plurality of lamps at the annunciator-board,signaling-circuits extending from the connecting-board to theannunciator-board and the inquiring-board, and an order-circuitextending between the inquiring-board and the connecting-board; wherebyan inquiring operator is notified by an annunciator operator to inquireof the call and all annunciator operators are apprised of the readinessof an inquiring operator to inquire of the calls, substantially asdescribed.

and to a'plurality of sections of the multiple connecting-board,signaling-circuits extending between the annunciator-board and theinquiring-board, an order-circuit extending from the inquiring-board tothe connectingboard, a signaling-circuit extending from theconnecting-board to the inquiring-board, said circuit being controlledby a relay at the inquiring-board and a relay at the connectingboard;whereby a connecting operator is notified by an inquiring operator tomake a connection and all the inquiring operators are apprised of thereadiness of .a connecting operator to make connections, substantiallyas described.

4. In a call-distributing system comprising telephone-lines, each havinga .terminal jack and a signaling instrument in an annunciatorboard, anda terminal socket in each of several sections in a multipleconnecting-board, a trunk-line extending from the annunciatorboard toone section of an inquiring-board and to a plurality of sections of themultiple conneoting-board, signaling-circuits extending between theannunciator-board and the inquiring-board and between the inquiringboardand the connecting-board, an ordercircuit extending between theinquiringboard and the connecting-board, a signalingcircuit extendingfrom the connecting-board to the annunciator-bo-ard, said circuitincluding a signal at the annunc'iator-board and a key and a relay atthe connecting-board; whereby an annunciator operator is notified by theconnecting operator of a connection being not to be had and of aconnection being to be broken, substantially as described.

5. In a call-distributing system comprising telephone-lines, each havinga terminal jack and a signaling instrument in an annunciatorboard, and aterminal socket in each of several sections in a multi leconnecting-board, a trunk-line extending om the annunciatorboard to onesection of an inquiring-board and to a plurality of sections of themultiple connecting-board, signaling-circuits extending between all theboards and an order-circuit extending between the inquiring-board andthe multiple connecting-board, switches in the signaling-circuitsextending between the inquiring-b0 ard on the one hand to theannunciator-board and the connecting board on the other hand whereby aposition at the inquiring-board and at the connecting-board canbefnotified as engaged at the annunciatorboard and the inquiring-boardrespectively, if said position is not attended to by an operator,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOIIAN ANTON'AVEN.

Witnesses:

GEORG FAnns'rnn, M. SITTENMANN.

